Sergio & Sergei

As cosmonaut Sergei is sent up to the MIR space station, the Soviet government collapses, and he seems to be forgotten in the tumult. It's 1991. Uncertainty also casts a shadow over Cuba, where Marxist college professor Sergio wonders what will happen now that the main bastion of the country's economy has fallen. Sergio is also a ham radio operator and makes contact with the desperate Sergei. The two quickly discover that they are kindred souls. Sergio's cynical friends quip, "Get ready to sing the International on an empty stomach." Sergio is loyal to the Revolution but has no comeback. Lost in space, Sergei maintains his sense of humor. "Cosmonauts don't cry," he says. "The tears would float all over the place." With tongue-in-cheek references to Kubrick's 2001, this warm, gentle comedy shows that Russians and Cubans have both learned to laugh in the face of life's absurdities.—Miguel Pendás

In Spanish, English and Russian with English subtitles

CINE LATINO

Sergio & Sergei

As cosmonaut Sergei is sent up to the MIR space station, the Soviet government collapses, and he seems to be forgotten in the tumult. It's 1991. Uncertainty also casts a shadow over Cuba, where Marxist college professor Sergio wonders what will happen now that the main bastion of the country's economy has fallen. Sergio is also a ham radio operator and makes contact with the desperate Sergei. The two quickly discover that they are kindred souls. Sergio's cynical friends quip, "Get ready to sing the International on an empty stomach." Sergio is loyal to the Revolution but has no comeback. Lost in space, Sergei maintains his sense of humor. "Cosmonauts don't cry," he says. "The tears would float all over the place." With tongue-in-cheek references to Kubrick's 2001, this warm, gentle comedy shows that Russians and Cubans have both learned to laugh in the face of life's absurdities.—Miguel Pendás